a rare op up, and not sweating on another

[haggiscat]

The other day I was travelling in Y with a large contingent of extended family members. At the Business Lounge, I enquired about the possibility of upgrading the ladies in the group with a view to minding the children down the back myself. The Lounge Dragon went through all the motions and said at the end 'by the way, that's complimentary'.

She succeeded in putting a smile on my dial and my travelling companions were very impressed. No doubt as a result of this they will fly QANTAS next time, instead of Deathstar (which they had requested originally).

The discretionary system employed by QANTAS to award upgrades seems to work well. I don't agree with some individuals who believe that op-ups cheapen the Business cabin, since that seems to be a value judgement on those who cannot afford to buy F or J tickets, however I do feel that offering op-ups as of right would alienate those who have fully paid tickets (particularly self-funded leisure flyers without status) as well as diminishing the airline's capacity to promote itself where appropriate.

I don't expect any complimentary upgrades any time soon, and I'm quite happy with that arrangement.

 

[Pushka]

Doesn't sound like she was a dragon then if she upgraded all the ladies complimentary.

 

[zachary.august]

Thats great luck! Tend to agree with the other post as well. Why is she a Dragon? Probably just a typo I suppose

 

[simongr]

Interesting. I guess a dragon as that is the terminology used to describe those who man the gates into paradise on this site.

I have a very different perspective on this though and this is served with a healthy self awareness that it is DYKWIA. Why on earth should QF be giving out free upgrades to people when I have travelled 51 times on QF this sine 1 Oct with 2 op ups - the first two I have ever had on QF. Obviously you had status given access to J lounge - what status did the people upgraded get?

Sorry to be a bit DYKWIA - but it is a bit depressing as a WP to hear about upgrades being given away...

 

[Brisbane Flyer]

Depressing...why because someone got something that u wanted...

Good on the OP for getting upgrades for the ladies. That is priceless and very classy.

 

[Canny man]

QF comp upgraded me + wife + 2 teenage kids on a domestic flight last year. The family was hugely impressed, and I would happily swap the pleasure it gave my little family unit for a whole bunch of opups for just me. We saw it as a QF thanks to me for all the flying I do with them. I didn't ask, and didn't expect, making it all the better a surprise.

 

[simongr]

Depressing...why because someone got something that u wanted...

Good on the OP for getting upgrades for the ladies. That is priceless and very classy.

My issue is more that they were happy just to randomly upgrade someone - given how rare upgrades are anyway it seems strange and something of a snub to people who flight a lot and get none.

QF comp upgraded me + wife + 2 teenage kids on a domestic flight last year. The family was hugely impressed, and I would happily swap the pleasure it gave my little family unit for a whole bunch of opups for just me. We saw it as a QF thanks to me for all the flying I do with them. I didn't ask, and didn't expect, making it all the better a surprise.

I would probably feel the same if it happened to my family. Of course I would prefer they were upgraded than me. I think however unless it was during the "free space available upgrades for QF WP after the grounding" then it was likely just an operational upgrade than a thank you upgrade.

 

[haggiscat]

Why on earth should QF be giving out free upgrades to people when I have travelled 51 times on QF this sine 1 Oct with 2 op ups - the first two I have ever had on QF. Obviously you had status given access to J lounge - what status did the people upgraded get? Sorry to be a bit DYKWIA - but it is a bit depressing as a WP to hear about upgrades being given away...

No, well, I take your point in a way, as I fly every week now (easily 100 flights a year and then some) and haven't had the pleasure before, but I suppose it wasn't purely random as the flight was obviously not looking like being full and I did march up armed with the requisite points to do the upgrade.

I just thought to myself that it seems like a system that is inherently flexible and able to be used to promote, rather than some rigid status-based thing where upgrades are awarded in order of seniority.

Maybe that 4 complimentary upgrades thing Virgin has would be a neat fix. I was looking forward to using that but missed the status match.